1
: a person under the protection of a feudal lord to whom he has vowed homage and fealty : a feudal tenant
2
: one in a subservient or subordinate position
vassal
adjective
Examples of vassal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That's why Obama didn't intervene as Iran and Russia split Syria or when Iran turned Iraq into a vassal.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Washington’s adversaries have proxies, clients, dependents, and vassals rather than actual friends.
—Nadia Schadlow, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2024
According to the document, Indigenous people could either voluntarily surrender their sovereignty and become vassals or bring war upon themselves – and perhaps lose their sovereignty anyway, after much bloodshed.
—Diego Javier Luis, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2024
The relationship between László and Van Buren is many contrasting things at once: artist/patron, immigrant Jew/American blue blood, vassal/exploiter, and, ultimately, something much darker.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Sep. 2024
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Washington’s adversaries have proxies, clients, dependents, and vassals rather than actual friends.
—Nadia Schadlow, Foreign Affairs, 9 Oct. 2024
According to the document, Indigenous people could either voluntarily surrender their sovereignty and become vassals or bring war upon themselves – and perhaps lose their sovereignty anyway, after much bloodshed.
—Diego Javier Luis, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2024
The relationship between László and Van Buren is many contrasting things at once: artist/patron, immigrant Jew/American blue blood, vassal/exploiter, and, ultimately, something much darker.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for vassal
Dictionary Entries Near vassal
Cite this Entry
“Vassal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vassal. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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vassal
noun
vas·sal
ˈvas-əl 
: a person in the Middle Ages who received protection and land from a lord in return for loyalty and service
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